Description

The Bentley 4.25 Litre “Embiricos” Pourtout Coupé is one of the most celebrated and unique pre-war Bentleys ever built, representing a bold fusion of British engineering excellence and French aerodynamic artistry. Commissioned in 1938 by Greek shipping magnate André Embiricos, the car was constructed on the robust Bentley 4.25 Litre chassis and bodied by the French coachbuilder Carrosserie Pourtout, with styling by Georges Paulin, a pioneer in streamlined automotive design.

Unlike the more upright and formal coachwork typically seen on Bentleys of the era, the Embiricos Coupé broke with tradition. Its low, flowing silhouette featured smooth, aerodynamic lines that were revolutionary for their time. The long, rounded front fenders, faired-in headlights, and tapered tail all contributed to a sleek, almost aircraft-inspired profile. The aluminum bodywork was remarkably advanced, focusing on reducing drag and increasing speed and efficiency, which was virtually unheard of in a luxury grand tourer of the period.

Under the bonnet, the Embiricos retained Bentley’s 4.25-litre inline-six engine, tuned for refined performance and capable of impressive cruising speeds. Remarkably, this striking coupé was not just a showpiece — it was used as a daily driver by Embiricos and later proved its mettle in endurance racing. During World War II, the car returned to the UK and was eventually entered in several competitions, including the 1949, 1950, and 1951 Le Mans 24 Hours, where it performed admirably, even against more modern rivals.

The Embiricos Coupé remains a pivotal piece of automotive history. It anticipated post-war sports car design by nearly a decade and demonstrated that elegance, performance, and aerodynamic efficiency could coexist in a single machine. Today, it is revered not only as a masterpiece of pre-war craftsmanship but also as a visionary work that helped shape the future of high-performance grand touring cars.